British and Irish Lions

Dowson, 25, has been sidelined with a bicep injury since October but has resumed full training and is close to making a comeback.

Falcons director of rugby John Fletcher said: "Phil is an integral part of our plans and having him at the club for the next two seasons is fantastic news.

"He was showing exceptional form up until his injury earlier this season, and was very much in the England reckoning after going on the Churchill Cup tour in 2005.

"He has matured both as a person and a player, and is increasingly becoming a senior member of the squad."

The Lions of Leicester and Leinster will bring domestic bragging rights with them to tomorrow's farewell dinner after they helped their respective sides to league titles on Saturday.

Assistant coach Graham Rowntree says The British & Irish Lions will have to be fully focussed to avoid a potential banana skin when they face The Barbarians a week today.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.